An Islamabad court on Tuesday handed down a death sentence to Umar Hayat in the high-profile murder case of TikToker and social media influencer Sana Yousuf, a verdict that brings legal closure to one of Pakistan’s most widely debated crimes involving online harassment and women’s safety.
The judgement was announced in open court by Afzal Majoka, who also sentenced the convict to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs200,000.
The court found Umar Hayat guilty of murdering Sana Yousuf at her residence in Islamabad, concluding months of closely watched proceedings.
The case drew nationwide attention due to Sana Yousuf’s large following on TikTok and Instagram and the circumstances surrounding her killing, which sparked outrage and renewed conversations about digital harassment, stalking, and the vulnerability of women content creators in Pakistan.
Court records show that Umar Hayat had earlier confessed before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, admitting that he shot Sana Yousuf.
The confession, recorded last year, became a key element of the prosecution’s case. However, during the trial, the 22-year-old later retracted his confession and pleaded not guilty, telling the court that the allegations against him were false and baseless.
Investigators told the court that the accused allegedly murdered Sana after she repeatedly rejected his attempts to establish contact. According to police, Hayat had tried several times to meet her but failed.
Authorities said he later entered her home, fired two shots, took her mobile phone, and fled the scene. He was arrested shortly after the incident.
Earlier in the proceedings, Islamabad High Court rejected the accused’s plea to transfer the case to another court. The petition, filed on the grounds of alleged bias, was dismissed by Sarfaraz Dogar, who directed that the trial continue under Judge Afzal Majoka.
Sana Yousuf’s killing in June last year triggered widespread condemnation across Pakistan. While many demanded swift justice, some online reactions blamed the victim, intensifying debate over misogyny, victim-shaming, and the dangers faced by women on social media platforms.
Before her death, Sana Yousaf had built a strong digital presence, with nearly half a million followers on Instagram. Her TikTok account saw a sharp rise in followers after the incident and now exceeds two million.
Her profiles were flooded with condolence messages, tributes, and calls for justice from fans across the country.
Known for sharing content related to cafés, skincare, traditional clothing, and everyday life, Sana’s final Instagram video showed her celebrating her birthday, cutting a cake amid balloons, a moment that later became a haunting reminder of a life cut short.
